Australia has qualified for the Fed Cup World Group for the first time since 2015 with a 4-1 win over the Netherlands in their play-off tie in Wollongong.

World No.19 Ashleigh Barty led the Aussies with two singles victories to improve her Fed Cup record to 11-2, while Daria Gavrilova earned the winning point with a 6-3 6-2 win over Quirine Lemoine.

Barty was bullish about Australia's chances of end their 45-year Fed Cup drought next year when they return to the top-eight World Group format.

"It's a little bit disjointed when you're playing Fed Cup but you know you can't win the Fed Cup, and I think that's been a bit of a tricky spot for us in the last couple of years when we've been in World Group II," Barty said

"Yes, we're trying to do our best to win every single tie and every single rubber, but you know there's no title at the end.

"So it's a bit of a different feeling, and we've known that it's a work-in-progress to get back into the World Group, and I think now we're in a perfect position to put ourselves in (with) a chance for a shot at the title next year."

With Barty, 24th-ranked Gavrilova and veteran Sam Stosur (58th) all available for the singles, Australia will field a formidable line-up on paper in 2019.

However, Stosur loss to world No.210 Lesley Kerkhove, 7-5, 7-6 (7-1), in her opening singles tie remains a concern for captain Alicia Molik.